According to urologist New York at the URO Center, if you’re experiencing bladder problems, you may have neurogenic bladder. This is the name given to a variety of urinary conditions and is the result of difficulties with nerves that control how the bladder stores or voids urine.
These conditions include overactive bladder, incontinence, and obstructive bladder. Many women and men experience these bladder problems, including people who suffer with illness and injury that affect the brain and/or the spinal cord.
What are the causes associated with neurogenic bladder?
According to your urologist New York, in patients with neurogenic bladder, the nerves and muscles don’t operate together in the correct way. For example, the bladder may not fill or void correctly due to nerve damage. Bladder muscles may be overactive and contract involuntarily more often than usual and before the bladder is filled with urine.
Sometimes muscles are too loose and they allow urine to pass before you’re ready. In some other cases, the bladder muscle may be underactive, which occurs when it will not contract when filled with urine and won’t empty entirely. The sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra may also not function properly, remaining tight when you try to release urine.
What are the symptoms associated with neurogenic bladder?
The symptoms differ from person to person and depend on the type of damage they have experienced. Some symptoms include:
- Incontinence;
- Urgent urination;
- Frequent urination;
- Urinary retention;
- Recurrent urinary tract infections.
How is this condition diagnosed?
Your urologist New York may diagnose your neurogenic bladder using methods such as:
- Reviewing your past and present health;
- Performing a physical exam;
- Asking you to keep a bladder diary;
- Performing a Pad Test;
- Collecting urine to test for infection or blood;
- Conducting a series of tests such as a bladder scan or urodynamic test.
Your urologist New York may need to perform additional imaging tests such as x-rays and CT scans to diagnose your condition.
The treatment is designed to control your symptoms while preventing damage to your kidneys. Treatment will be dependent on the symptoms you are experiencing, and the cause of your neurogenic bladder. However, regardless of the cause, treatments are concentrated on improving the patient’s quality of life.
It’s vital that you determine what is causing your symptoms before they lead to more serious bladder problems.
If you are having bladder problems or need urinary treatment, you can rely on the expert care provided by the best urologist Dr. Jerry G. Blaivas, MD, FACS at the New York URO Center:
Uro Center of New York
Jerry G. Blaivas, MD, FACS
445 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10075
646-205-3039